I used to love watching major league baseball. Things change. Not always for the better.

 I can’t remember when I’ve watched a complete game. There was a time when I would even stay up late and watch the west coast games. Haven’t done that in years.

I have fond memories of my dad and I watching games on Sunday afternoons. That was before the Atlanta Braves. Our favorite teams were the Milwaukee Braves and the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Many summer nights we sat up late shelling peas and butterbeans listening to these games.

Back in those days, there were a few pitchers who went nine innings. That’s unheard of anymore.

For me there’s two big problems with major league baseball. One, it’s way too slow. As a friend of mine said, “It’s like watching grass grow!” (Nutgrass during rainy days excluded.)

Also, it’s very hard for me to relate to a game where players are making more money than the gross national product of some small countries.

To me, if a pitcher signs a $70- million contract then he should be able to throw a fast ball down an eight-inch pipe without hitting the sides. Of course that analogy, with some modification, could fit a lot of pro sports.

So when a batter goes up to the plate, how many times should he be allowed to adjust his batting gloves? I think there should be a limit as to how many times a batter can step out of the box. I’ve often wondered what baseball would be like if, instead of innings, they played quarters like they do in football.  Set a time limit and whoever has the most runs at the end of the last quarter is the winner. But that would be like asking for term limits for congressmen.

Now I know that’s radical thinking on my part. So while I’m at it, let’s do a little more radical thinking.

Why not have provisions for the defense to score. In football, the defense can pick up a fumble or intercept a pass and score for his team. Yes, I fully realize that in baseball the same players, minus a designated hitter, play offense and defense.

But let me propose that if the infield turns a double play, it’s considered a half run. And if an outfielder reaches over the fence to snare an otherwise homerun, that also would be a half run. We might even add that if an outfielder throws out someone at homeplate, again score the defense a half run.

Now I might compromise there and say that a team cannot win by a half run, but two defensive plays of this sort could possibly bring a team the victory.

I suggested this many years ago. Like I said, radical.

And being rather facetious at that time, I suggested that the batter could choose to run the bases either clockwise or counter-clockwise. Just kidding!

But realistically, I think the game would be better served if it could be put into a higher gear. Is the catcher going out to talk strategy to the pitcher or, as illustrated in an old movie about Dizzy Dean, does he go out there to see if the pitcher wants to sell him a shotgun?

When I was in college, I would often go to a double-header Braves game on Sunday afternoons. If they played many double-headers these days, spectators would have to schedule their vacations around the games and invest in camping gear.

Oh well, as boring as it has become for me, it still beats the heck out of curling.

(Dwain Walden is editor/publisher of The Moultrie Observer, 985-4545. Email: dwain.walden@gaflnews.com)